Key case



May E 3 1924. 1,493,689

` G. MARCUS KEY CASE Filed Aug. l1. 1922 Fij.

Patented May 13,1924. l

GEORGE MARCUS, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

KEYCASE.

Application filed August 11,1922. Serial No. 581,244.

To all whom t may concern y Be it known that I, Gnonon MARCUS a citizen of the United States, residing at lrooklyn, in the county of Kings and Stateof New yYork, have invented new and useful 1mprovements 1n Key Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to key cases and has for itsvprimary object the provision of a device' of this character wherein the keys may be contained in a common enclosure and associated with mechanism whereby upon the desire of the user, a particular key can be exposed from the enclosure without disturbing the normal concealed condition of the remaining keys.

Another ob'ect of the invention is to provide a case aving dispensing means coacting with distinguished keys or keys of respectively diderent formation and associated with a mechanism for presenting any one of the distinguished keys for use at one side of the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key case in which a number of ke s may be arranged flatwise therein so that t e case assumes a comparatively compact flat package that can be conveniently carried in the pocket of the user, hand bag or the like.

Another` object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which keys may be readily associated with or disconnected from the case as theoccasion requires.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which will hereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated, a single and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitations are necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modications within the .scope of the claims may be resorted `to when desired.

Figure 1, is a side view of the case.

Figure .2, is an edge view thereof.

Figure 3, is a longitudinal section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4, is a transverse section taken on line Ll--llof Figure Y1.

,Figure/5, is a similar -5-5 of Figure 1.

view taken on line In carrying the invention into practice, I provide means for normally concealin a number of keys and for arranging them atwise in a compact case, wherein mechanism is provided for exposing any particular key from one side of the case asthe occasion requires. Heretofore, many forms of key holders had been provided but in each instance, to the bestof my knowledge, the keys are supportedupon a common ring or supporting device so that they are bunched together in a manner which renders it dii cult to obtain the desired key at the requisite time. lt is a purpose of my invention to distin uish the respective keys with respect to eac i other and with respect to identified portions of the case so that, the user well knowing they key he desires may obtain itat an f instant without confusion of its being mixed with other keys. j

For the purpose of accomplishih the object of my invention use is made o parallel outer plates 10, and 11, and an intermediate plate 12. rlhese plates are separated by diagonal spacers 13, riveted or otherwise secured/to the plates at 14. ln this manner, l sub-divide each of the spacers between the plates 10, 11 and 12, into key .compartments 15. Each of these compartments is adapted to accommodate a single key (K). f

rlhe manipulating ends of the keys are provided with the customary eyes 16. From the construction of the plates 10, 11 and 12, and the manner of associating them with the aforesaid spacers 13, the eye 16 of the keys at each end of the case may be brought into registration and pivotally accommd dated between said plates by means of a `screw 17 having a manipulating end 18, eX-

posed from one side of the case and provided with a threaded shank 19, engageable in a xed nut 20, at the opposite side of the case. The plates 10, 11 and 12 are relatively springy and incident thereto, friction is set up and the stood upon reference; to drawing. Also Von reference to this figure of the drawing it will be observed that the plate 12 is'provided with an upstruck projection 21, adapted to directly engage in the eye 16 'of the adjacent key. The eye 16 ofthe key of the adjoining compartment of the case is directly accommodated by the flange 22 on the nut 20. This arrangement is the same at each end of the case and as sides of the keys as will be under- Figure 5, of theA between the surfaces of the plates stated, the screw 17 acts as a bearing support for two keys. The .ends of the plates 10, 11, and 12 are rounded as at 23 in Figures 1 and 3. The purpose of this construction is to permit the case to be carried in the ocket or 1n a hand bag without causing undue damage.

The spacers 13 hereinbefore referred to each consist of mating sections 24 and 25, spaced apart at their inner ends to slidably accommodate therebetween a key lprojecting mechanism 26. One of these mec anisms is provided for each set of two ke s and as shown such mechanism consists o a sliding head 27 having a pin 28 working in a longitudinal slot 29 in the adjacent outer plate of the case. Exteriorly of the outer plate of the case, the pin is provided with a manipulating button 30 which may be moved in either direction or toward either of the open sides of the case.

The case herein illustrated accommodates four keys, two arranged at each end as previously described. Adjacent to the pivot screws 17, the case is provided with numbers 31 or other distinguishing marks whereby the respective keys can be distinguished from each other. The numbers 1 and 2 shown in Figure 1 of the drawing co-act with the keys shown in Figure 3. It is assumed that the user desires key number 1. By manipulating the thumb piece 30 so as to move it upward, the head 27 will engage against the shank of the key so as to slightly expose it from one side of the case. When thls is accomplished, the key can be turned to the dotted line position shown to the left in Figure 3. If key number 2, is desired, the head 27 will be moved downward. This actuates the adjacent key in a manner agreeing with the aforesaid operation of key number 1. The same operation is common to the relative keys and it will be understood that through the means employed herein, all of the keys are normally concealed and arranged within the case and are distinguished from one another by means upon the outside of the case so that any particular key desired can be ex osed for use with utmost convenience. T e projections 21 and 22 shown in Figure 5 operatetoassociate the keys with the walls 10, 11 and 12 so that in arranging the keys in the case, the previously positioned keys will not be deranged or accidentally se arated from the case.

The case may covered with any suitable Well known material such as leather, which will give ornamentation to the device and make it attractive.

While I have described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it isl obvious that many of the details may be varied withoutin any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention, limited only by the appended claims.

What I claim is:`

1. A device of the class described comprising a case open at its sides and ends, removable means for pivotally supporting keys in said case, and means for singly moving the-keys and for exposing same from the case.

2. A device of the class described coinprising a case open at its sides and ends, means for pivotally supporting keys in said case, means for singly moving the keys and for exposing same from the case, said means including a device freely engageable with said keys; and key distinguishing indicia upon the case.

3. A device of the class described comprising a case having separable sections defining compartments, means for movably supporting keys in said compartments and for holding said sections together, said compartments serving to normally conceal the keys, and means for actuating the key in either of said compartments to expose same from the exterior of the case.

1n testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature.

GEORGE MARCUS. 

